Friday, 20 December 2013

Sleepy John [1970]

Animal Noises

Another one-off but surviving through contemporary releases
that fuel the insatiable appetite for more and more touchstones to this era
where many of us wish we could return and perhaps even record our own as well
as live the overall dream again [apparently the band’s 1970 recording sessions
did not get released as an lp until 1999]. This is a heavy blues rock album,
driven by the Hammond organ of David Lee. The band is remembered as a brilliant
live act and supported other bands like Moby Grape and The Mothers of Invention. Opener River has the organ drive of Deep
Purple, and second Nothing has strong
vocal, this linked to the rock guitar solo with an emerging psychedelic sound.
Fourth Searching for the World
employs more vocal harmony and at times sounds like Jefferson Airplane, and
fifth Trying to Fly is a jazzy
instrumental, this, like Someones Band just reviewed, hitting the rock
requisite buttons of the time, but doing so with heart and some skill. Seventh You Say provides another one of the odd rock
album expectations of the time: the ‘comic’ number, often with a Country lilt
[or a jug band leaning], and here including various pig, cow, chicken and horse
noises. I don’t think you can blame the drugs.

About Me

This blog is essentially for music reviews, including live gigs. Frequently heavy on 60s/70s nostalgia, the time of my musical growing-up, there is also an eclectic and contemporary range. In addition I fuel a commitment to posting themed album covers for the simple challenge and fun of it - as I've started, I'll keep going. Enjoy.